Compressing and packing machine.



c. E. MC'MANUS. COMPRESSINGAND PACKING MACHINE.

APPUCAHON HLED IAN. 22. 191B.

Patented Apr. L 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET Inventor: clffaa, MQ mi: VMAU WITH! MWI lilik, ....I.. 5

C. E. McMANUS.

coMPnEsslNG AND PACKING MACHINE.

APFLICAHON FILED JAN.22. lSIE.

Patented Apr. l, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In Ventor:

C. E. MCMANUS.

coMPREsslNG AND Pncms MAcHmE.

APPLICAION HLD MN. 22.1916.

Patented Apr. l, 1919.

E SHEETS-SNEET 3.

Inventor.- M mt by 9 est:

C. E. McMANUS.

coMPREssmG AND PACKING MACHINE,

APPLICAHON ULEB MN. 22.19l6.

Patented Apr. 1,1919..

In ven tor:

,MES 9.

CHARLES E. MQMANUS, 0F NEW YORK, N'. Y.

COMPBESSING AND PACKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application tiled January 22, 1916. Serial No. 73,515.

'granulated cork and the like` and in its preferred embodiment comprises amachinc in which a. tubular chamber or container for the material to be compressed receives the material in successive charges. and the material after each chargilncr operation will be subjected to plunger means ot successively tlet-reusingl rang-e ot movement in the cham.- ber to compensate for thc gradually increasing' amounts of material within the chamber.

ln the acconipan vin;, lr drawings Figure l is a rear end elevation, partly in section` ot' a linachine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation Ot the maehincon thelines 2 2. Fig. 1; Fig. il is a perspective view. partly in section, of the main power shaft Vand certain driving connections connected therewith; Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the cork-hoppers and tiask mechanism; and Figs. 5 and are detail perslwctive views, partly in section. ot' the feeding mechanism for the corkholding tubes. and thc cork agitatimgr meclr anism, respectively.

The machine is constructed with a rigid `frame comprising the uprights 1 and the transverse beams 2, the uprights supporting at their upper end a horizontal table 3 upon which is rigidly secured the two hollow posts 4, connected at their upper ends b v means of the crossbealn 5 and midway. ot their length connected by means of the horizont-al beam 55, supporting upper and lower plates 7 'and 7x between which are slidably fitted certain tiask devices hereinafter de scribed. t

Within the hollow posts 4 are vertically reg'procable shafts 8 by means of which reciprocatory movements` are imparted to the plunger rods 9 'which serve to compress the charges of cork fed to the tubular chainu bers or containers, preferably in the form of tubes 10. Each plunger rod S) is 'itted within a socket formed in trame 11, the latter being provided at each end with a flat pro.- jection 12 fitted between guide walls afforded by a vertical clearance slot formed in each post 4, each projection 12 being secured to a shaft S in any suitable manner. The shafts 8 project below the table 3 and are secured to a horizontal cross bar 13 formed with a longitudinal 'channelway 11 within which is fitted two friction Wheels 15, journaled respectively on the end of each ot' two spaced crank arms 16. Each crank arm is connected with a shaft 17, each ot' which has fixed thereto a mutilated gear wheel 1S", said gear w-heels being operativelyY engaged b v a large intermediate mutilated gear wheel 19. The active and inactive surfaces on thc gear wheels 1S* and 19 are so arranged that the frame l1 and its connected plungers are held motionless or for a period of rest after each descent and rise thereof to permit a shifting movement of the tubes 10, relative to the plungers and a corresponding movement. of a flask device to bring a new charge of cork into register with each tube 10.

1t will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the plungers 9 are of successively de(- creasing length from the right toward the lct't of the machine. and therefore are adapted in succession to compress a successively greater amount of material in a tube 10 laterally shifted into register with each plunger at the proper time. The operation of the machine is such that after the extreme right hand end tube receives a charge of cork and thc same is compressed by the descent of the. extreme right hand plunger within the tube. the latter is iven a move nent to the left and into register with the second plunger which is delayed in its descent throu h the tube until a second charge is presente to the latter, the operation continuiugg until the tube passes beyond the row of plungers and, completely filled, is removed from the machine. The means for ilnparting the necessary lateral movements to the tubes 10will now .bedescribed.

Mounted for rotation upon each post 4 are two spaced sleeves 20 each carrying a pinion 21 and sprocket teeth 22. The lower sleeves are connected through the said sprocket teeth by means of a chain 24 and the upper sleeves are connected through the said sprock?l teeth by means of a chainlv 25.

. provided with Each pinion 21 engages a pinion 30 mounted on the ends of the vertical shafts 31 and 32. Shaft 31 is operatively connected with shaft 32 by means of a chain 33 moving below the table 3 on sprocket wheel 34 carred by shaft 31 and sprocket wheel 35 carried by shaft 32. Shaft 32 below the table 3 is provided with a. s rocket wheel 32* connected by chain c wit a sprocket wheel 33* on a vertical shaft d (see Fig. 2) journaled at its upper end in a bearin within table 3 and at its lower end withln boss 36 of a bracket member 37 bolted upon the lower face of table 3 (see Fig. 1). Shaft d near its lower end is provided with a beveled gear 38 meshing with a second gear 39 fixed upon a shaft 40 which also has a sprocket'wheel 41 connected by means of a chain 42 with a second sprocket wheel 43 fixed upon a shaft 44 upon which is lfixed a mutilated gear wheel 45 which receives motion from a second mutilated gear wheel 45x on shaft 72.

Through themutilated gear wheel 45 intermittent partial rotations are imparted to the shaft 32 which, through lthe connections above described, imparts intermittent movements to the sleeves 20 and hence chains 24 and 25. The chains 24 and 25 are utilized to impart successive lateral movements to the tubes or chambers 10. To this end alternate links 22X of each'chain are provided with projecting fingers f, and inasmuch as each chain is composed of parallel series of links, the tube is engaged near cach end by four fingers, as shown in Fig. 5, which illustrate the lower chain, and the manner in which the tubes are engaged by each chain. By the foregoingmeans a tube placed in proper position with respect to the chains 24 and 254 at the righthand end of the machine shown in Fig. 1, `is fed by intermittent steps into register with each of the plungers 9 until, when filled with compressed cork, it comes into position to be removed from the machine at its left-hand end, simultaneously with the insertion of a new tube at the righthand end of the machine.

To holdthe tubes against displacement from the engaging fingers of the feeding chains, upper and lower retaining bars are provided. Inasmuch, as the bars may be alike, a description of the lower bar, shown in Fig. 5, will, sullioe. The upper bar is shown in section in Fig. 4. The bar 46 is provided with multiple hinged supporting members, of which one is shown in Fig. 5. The said supporting member comprises the bracket piece 47 fixed upon a suitable base member B secured to table 3 and upon which ythe tubes 16 rest. The bracket piece 47 is p an upwardly extending lug 47* upo'n which is pivoted, by means of a piu 48, the depending yoke I6 which straddlos the lug 475, and which 'is secured vto bar 46.

Xed thereon Pivotally secured to yoke 49 b, means of the pivot pin 50 is a latch 51 he d in actii'e position by means of a stop pin on bracket piece 47. The latch is provided with a thumb piece f2 by means of`which it may be swung upwardly above the bracket piece 47 to permit bar 46 to be moved downwardly upon its pivot 48 and thus out of engagement with the tubes lOl whenever desired.

ing from the Apart 46l and through a slot c in the latch member. The latch member is shown in position in Fig. 5 to hold the part 46* rigidly in alinement with the bar 46. Then it is desired to hm'e the part 46t swin on its hinge to release a tube, the latex member c'. is moved toward the left of Fig. 5 until the rear end of said member clears the hinge joint between said parts 46 and 46".

As hereinbefore stated. the flask mechanism is slidably fittedbetween plates 7 and 7X supportedby the cross-beam 55. Two flasks are provided for each tube and adapted to be alternately projected over the upper ends of the latter. In the present case twenty tubes are employed for simultaneous compression of their charges by the plungers 9, and therefore two rows of twenty flasks cach are mounted for movement in unison between the plates 7 and 7".

lVhen the tubes are shifted laterally the feed chains 24, 25 are held motionless while a filled row of two rows` of flasks, moves into register with the tubes, and their corresponding plungers. The flask mechanism is such that the movement of the row of filled flasks into register with the tubes serves to carry the second and empty row of flasks from discharging position into register with a hopper for the granulated cork. Each flask comprises a lower vertical tube 146, fixed within a slide plate 15d, resting upon plate 7, and within which tube is fitted a tube 151 of slightly smaller diameter, secured at its upper oud within a slide plate 152. The plate 7* affords a bottom for the two hoppers 53 and 54 between which operate the plungers 9, and the said platcf7x is provided with three rows of apertures 7, 7", 7. the intermediate row of' apertures 7b being clearance openings for the plungcrs 9 and the 'outer rows of apertures 7, 7c permitting thc discharge of granulated cork from cach hopper alternately into a row of flasks. The plate |52 at each side of thc flasksI |51 is formed with a u unbroken surface so as to af'- ford a closure for one hopper o enin in whatever direction the flasks are s lifter.

From an inspeetion ot Fig. 4 it will be seen that when a lilled row of flasks is shifted into register with the row olf plungers ll the second row ot' flasks will be placed into register with a row of discharge openings 7 or 7 leading from oml of the hoppers, and that` after the reeiproeatory movement ot' the row of plungers a reverse movement of the llas will bringr the empty row thereotl into register with the seeond hopper and the filled row ot' flasks into register with the tubes and plunge-rs for a sue ceeding' active movement of the latter. This shifting of the flasks is accomplished by means of the following instrumentalities: Supported upon beam 55 are two spared bracket members 5U and 5T` formed with alined apertured bosses to receive a shaft 5S carrying two ecrentrics, indicated by the numerals 59 (see Figs. 1 and l). Each eeeentrie is embraced by the strap l'atl of an eceenlrll. rnd (il projecting through an open- Iormeo in the beam 55 and pivotally Connected at G1* with a bracket (l2 rigidly secured to the bottom slide plate 15d in which the flask members are seeured. Shaft 58 is given intermittent partial rotations through the engagement of a mutilated gear 63 `fixed thereon meshing with a seti-ond and mutilated gear 64 fixed upon a shaft (l5 mounted in bearing,T apertures formed in depending arms G* of brackets 6 on beam Shaft 65 is connected by means of beveled gears 66 with a vertical shaft 67 also eonneeted by means of beveled gears with a shaft 68 carrying the sprocket wheel 59 driven by means of chain belty 7() from sprocket wheel 71 on shaft 72 which supports also mutilated gear wheels 19 and 45". Shaft 65 and gear 64 are given a continuous rotation, but inasmuch as only a portion olf the toothed surface of said gear is active, the eccentrics 59 are alternately active and inactive, so that when a row of empty flasks is moved out of register with the plungers and the second lilled row of fiasks is substitilted, the latter are retained in position until the plungers descend and rise again suflieiently to clear the top of eat-l1 flask.

To hold each tube 10 in proper register with the plunger which it receives, a centering or detent device is employed. This de vice comprises a bar 172 formed with a V-shaped opening for each tube. The bar, near each end thereof is secured .upon one of two transverse bars 73 slidingly mounted upon the horizontal base portion 74 of a bracket extension 75 depending from beam 55, one of the said bars 73 being shown in F ig. 4. At its outer end1 each bar earries a friction wheel 77 engaged bv the periphery of a cam wheel 78 upon shaft. 65 and given intermittent partial rotations therewith,

The detent bar moves forward at the end of each tube shifting movement and serves to properly renter the tubes. the said har being retracted as the plungers E) rise.

The degree ot' compression of a ellarge, of granulated rorhY will vary aecording to ipialitf,Y and size of tbe eorlt' particles. ln the present machine an adjustment may be made to eompensate For changes in tht` quality ot' the material. To this` end. hopper closure plate 7* is directly engaged by a series of rerti `al wormshatts T19 having bearing' seats in plate T. two ol' the worm shafts being shown in Fig. 4. 'l`he worm shafts are connected through sproeltet` wheels Ft) and chain belts Si. and one worm shaft (at tho left-haml ot' Fig. l) projects below plate i' and is connected by means ot beveled gears with a shaft H23 whit-l may be rotated by means ol' a suitable hand crank to adjust plate Tt to its proper height. (hmnected with plate To'. but` spared therefrom. are a plurality oi' K-upports or li l'ting bars Sl upon which the upper llasli plate 13: rests. and therefore the adjustment ol' plate T* will simultaneously adjust the position of flask plate 1:32 and the telesropie llaslt members. The ends of the bars` Sil are rigidly eonneeted with the plate 7"' in any suitable manner. l'or example` by means ol' pins Hl" threaded into the plate Ty. as at nl" (see Fig. 1). The ends of the hars preferably pass through slots in said pins and are held in position by a pin Si, l(` will be understood that there is a pin 94"*:1teaf'l1t-iid ol' a bar 81h although but one ot' such pins is shown in Fig. 4. For elearness tlu` bars H Jf are omitted from Figs. 1 and 2. To eompensate for ebanges in the distanee between the hopper elosure. plate 7* and the lower hopper walls, the former has secured on its upper surface the upright. plates in eontaet with the lower walls Ot' each hopper.

Means are provided for agitating the eorliV within and near tlie delivery end ot' eaeh hopper. The primary agitator member is a rod Btl within eau-h hopper. having its end SG projecting beyond a supporting plate Q7 secured to each hopper at` one end thereol. the rod carrying a series ol spaced fingers 88 intermediate a seeond series ol rigid lingers 89 carried by a bar 9U within and extending lengthwise of the hopper. When one row of flasks is shifted into register with hopper 54 an operating member for the agitator rod within said hopper is connected with said rod and is released from the agitator rod in the other hopper. 'Ihe operating member 91 is formed with two parallel arms fm. and m', eaeh arm being formed with an aperture to reet-.ive a` sleeve .)2 held in place by setn serews Stil and adapted to receive the projerting end SitiX of one agitator rod. The operating member is formed at, its rear end with spaeed lugs Q-L between which is pivoted by pin 95* one end of fr link 96 eonueeted at its opposite end by means of pin 9T with one end of an elbow lever 0S. The elbow lever 98 is fulerurned at 9S) upon a braeltet. 100 carried by the cross-beam Each projeeting arm m and m and the sleeve 02 therein is provided with a lower vertieal slot 101 Corresponding with a similar slot 10:2 formed in each of the agitator har projections Stix. As so far described the operating member 91 would reeiproeate without aetion upon either of they agitator bars. However, member 91 is formed with a depending lug 103 upon which is t'ulerumed at 104 a lever 105 earrying at eaeh end a projecting pin 10G whieh supports an upwardly projecting lateh bar 10i'. The lever 105 has a depending arm 108 fitted withinV a channel bar 10S) earried h v the slide plate 150 of the tiask mechanism. It will be understood that a shifting movement of the tiask slide plate 150 to the left from the position shown in Fig. t' will roel( lever 105 on its fulerum and thereby elevate lateh bar 101- until it passes witghin slot 101. and, in the forw-.rnl movement of member S11,y projects within slot 10; of the agitator har Sti. thus locking the agitatmI bar to reeiproeatory member 01. and atv the same time the seeond lateh bar 10T is withdrawn from the other agitator member. Elbow lever 0S is ope ated through a rod 110` given eudwise movements from a rranli or eeeentrie on a shaft 111. the latte;- having lixed thereon a pinion 11'.) meshing with a pinion on shaft (t8 (Fig. 1).

The. main power shaft ll. illustrated in Fig. 3, is jourualed within bearing bosses` 11-1 one of which is mounted at the upperl end of arm 11T of braeket 11t' seeured tothe table Il. and the other of whieh is mounted ou the table Il, rl`he shaft 112i has tixed thereon two spared helt pulleys 111 and 115 and supports an intermediate loose pulley llti. .\t its inner end the shaft lll earries a pinion 11i meshing with a pinion 11S on the aetuating shaft 115i. whieh is provided with a seeoud pinion 1:20 meshing with a redueing gear-wheel 1;1 ou shaft 12; journaled in hearingl bosses 122 in the upright fralne beams l". Fixed upon shaft 12;l (see Figs. l and 2) is a pinion lll meshing wah a gear wheel 12H on shaft T2 whirh earries the mutilated gear wheel lil for operating the plungers. Two belts (not `shown) are used in eonneetion with the pulleys 11i'. 11.3 and 110*` one belt` only being operative at a time. One belt leads from a large pulley1 (not shown) to one ol said pulleys 111. 115" for rotating the .shaft 112i at high speed and the seeond belt leads from a smaller pulley to rotate the shaft 115i at low speed. rl`l|e foregoing arrangement permits the teeth ol' nmtilated gears 1S and 10 to engage eaeli othel' at .low speed, to avoid the stripping or breakin of the teeth and unnecessary jar of the mac ine which would take place if these teeth were suddenly thrown into mesh at the normal high -speed of operation.

Means are provided for automatically shifting the high-speed belt from a fast pulleyr to a loose pulley 110- and for simultaneously shifting the low speed belt from 'the loose pulley to a fast pulley, and vice versa. For they said purpose, a belt shipper 135 is employed, the two belts passing through guides (j projecting upwardl from the shipper. The shipper is carried by a slide bar 13G supported upon the bracket 110, and is automatically operated through a lever 13T fulerumed at 13S upon a rigid bar lill) earried by the frame. Lever 1317 is provided at its lower end with a friction wheel 140 fitted within the peripheral slot 1-11 of a eam wheel 11; earried at the end 0f :shaft T23. hereinln-fore referred to.

In the operation of the machine, the plunger rods being in their elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1. and the row of filled flasks having moved into register with the` tubes', eam wheel 171;". through its operative eon neetions with shipper 13.3 will transfer the high speed belt from a fast pulley to loose pulley 1113 and the low speed belt from the loose pulley to a fast pulley. whereupon shaft lll. through pinionsaud gears12tl, 121. 133i and tilt will eommeuee the rotation of shaft T. at low speed. and the latter through mutilated gears 10 and 1SY will operate the eranlc arms lt to impart a. slow downward movement to the plunger-s Sl until a reverse. shifting movenu-nt is given to the belts and the plungers move downward at high speed until they eompress the eliarges of eorl: within tubes 10. When the plungers have reaehed their extreme lower position they will be elevated at normal high speed until they real-h almost the height of their movement. when they are slowed down as the gears are moved out` ot' mesh. 'hen the lmvermost plunger rises above the plate Tx, the toothed portion of gear will art upon mutilated gear l5, and. through sproeket and chain eonneetious 13. 1:2 and l1 and heveled gears .",H and 19. will turn ehain aetuating shaft 3'), so that the latter. through its eonneetiona with sproeltet sleeves 20. will impart a` movement to ehaius t and 2.3. the tubes thus being shifted to a` new position. .\t this` point ot' the operation ot' the maehine the toothed portion of mutilated gear wheel til (see Fig. l) aets upon mutilated pinion til and. through shaft 59, aetuates eeeentries and the rods til are moved endwise to shift the empty row of flasks into register' with a hopper and lilled row ol llaslts into reLtistet` with the plungers aud tubes. .\t the same time. the aetive portions ol ealu wheels TS on the shaft 155 move the bars Til and earry deteut bars T2 into engagement with`the Legame tll'lzis Ato center the same and hohl them mbtibnless during the succeeding downward i movement` of* the plunger rods.

It will Vbe understood that various modications may bemade in the structural form and arrangement of the various elements herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

IVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statemm 1. In a machine of the character described. a plurality of plungers adapted to enter a chamber to compress material therein, said plungers having different extent of movement within the chamber, and means for causing said plungers to successively enter said chamber.

2. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of plungcrs adapted to enter a chamber to compress material therein, said plungers successively having different extent of movement in thc chamber. and means for causing a. relative. movement between the chambcr and plungers to bring the chamber in line with said plungers successively.

In a machine ofthe character described, a plurality of plungeis adapted to enter a chamber to compress material therein, said plungers successively havingr different extent of movement in tbe chamber, means for causing a relativo movement between the chamber and plungcrs to bring the chamber in line with said plungers successively, and means for depositing a charge ot' material in the chamber after the compression action of each plunger.

4. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of plungcrs adapted to indivith ually enter a chamber to compress material therein, said plungcrs being successively o different lengths, and means for causing a relative movement between the chamber and the plungers to cause the latter to successively enter the chamber.

5. In a machine of thc character described, a plurality of plungcrs adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress material therein, said phlngers being of successively different lengths, and means to move the chamber in line with the plungcrs succes sivcly to permit tl.: latter to successively enter the chamber.

6. In a machine of thc character described, a plurality of plungcrs adapted to individually entcr a chamber to compress the ma. tcrial therein, said plungers being successively of ditl'crcut lengths, means for relatively moving the chamber and the plungers to permit the latter to succcssively enter the chamber. and means for feeding material to the chamber between the successive compression actions of the plungcrs. v

7. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of plungers adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress material therein, said plungers bein successively of diifcrcnt lengths and in fxecgl relation to each other, means for moving the chamber successively into line with said plungers, and means for moving the plnngers to cause one of the same to enter the chamber.

8. In a machine of the character dcscrlbed, means adapted to propel a plurality of chambers. a plurality of plungcrs adapted to enter the chambers carried bv said means, said plungcrs having successively dill'crcnt extent of movement within the chambers.

9. In a machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a plurality of chambers with a step by step movement, a plurality of plungers adapted to enter the chambers carried by said means, said plungers having successively different extent of movement.

l0. In a machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a plurality of chambers, a plurality of plungers adapted to enter the chambers, means to feed a charge to each of said chambers, and means to more the plungers into said chambers subsequent to the operation of said feeding means.

11. In a machine of the character dcscribed, means adapted to propel a plurality of chambers, a plurality of plungers adapted to enter the chambers, means to feed a charge to each of said chambers, means to move the plungers into said chambers subsequent to the operation of said feeding means, and means whereby the propelling means advances the chambers when the plungers are withdrawn from the latter.

12. In a machine of the character described, mcans adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers, a plurality of plungers in fixed relation to each other and of successively varying lengths, and means for moving raid propelling means to bring the tubular chambers carried thereby successively in line with said plungers.

13. In a machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a plurality of chambers, a plurality of plungers adapted to individually enter said chambers, and means whereby the extent of movement of the plnngcrs in the chambers is successively decreased individually. c,

14. In a machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers, a plurality of plunger rods of varying lengths adapted to individually enter said chambers simultaneously.

15. In a -machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a lurality ot' tubular chambers. a plurality oirodsof varying lengths adapted to individually enter said chambers simultaneously. and means to cause a relative step by step movement between the plungers and the chambers to position the latter in line with the plungcrs.

1li. ln a machine of the character de scribed. means adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers and support the same. and a plurality ot compression rods adapted to individually enter said chambers, said rods being successively ot decreasing length.

1T. In a machine ot' the character described, means for propelling a plurality of tubular chambers and supporting,r the same. a cross head, a plurality ot' plunger rods rigidly supported on the cross head and adapted to individually enter tht` tubular chambers, and means whereby the extent of movement ot' the rods successively decreases within the chambers.

18. In a machine of the character described, means adapted to propel. a plurality of tubular chambers and support the same, a.t'eeding hopper, measuring devices adapted to receive material from the hopper and deliver it individually to said chambers, and a plurality of plungers ot' successively decreasing lengths adapted to individually compress the material in the chambers.

19. In Aa machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers and support the same,

a hopper, measuring devices adapted to receive material from the hopper and take position over the ends of said chambers. and a plurality of plunger rods reciprocable through said measuring devices and adapted to individually enter said chamber, said roth being successively of decreasing,r lengths.

20. In a machine of the character dcscribed, means adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers and support the same, two feeding hoppers, a pair of measuring devices individual to each chamber and adapted to receive material, one at a time` from said hoppers, means to move the supplied measuring device of a pair into line with a chamber, and the other measuring device of the pair into line with the outlet from a hopper, a plurality of rods reciprocable through the measuring device in hue with the chamber and force the material therefrom into the chamber, said rods being of successively de` creasin lengths.

21. n a machine of the character dcscribed', means adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers and support the same. two feed hopper-s arranged on opposite sides 0f the ath of movement of said chambers, a pair otpmeasurin devices reciprocable across the upper end o each chamber whereby one of said devices is positioned over t-he chamber While the other is being filled'from one of the hoppers, plunger rods reciprocable through the measuring devices over the end of the chambers and adapted to compress the material in the chambers, said rods having successively decreasing extent of movement in the individual chambers.

22. In .a machine of the character' described, means adapted to propel a plurality` ot tulmlar chambers intermittently with periods of rest, means for feeding material to said chambers, a plurality of plunger rods adapted to cuter said chambers while the latter are at rest, said rods individually having' decreasing;r extent of movement in the iudilvidual chambers.

In a machine oi the character di scribed. spaced chains adapted to propel a plurality of tubular chambers and support the same. an abutment against which one end ot' each chamber moves. means for in4 termittently driving said chains with period-` oi rest, a plurality of plunger rods to individually enter said chambers, said rods lieing` individually and successively of decreasing lengths` and means for moving said plungers into said chambers during said periods of rest.

24. In a machine of thc character di scribed, 1 plurality ot plungers adapted to individually7 enter a chamber to compress material therein, a hopper adapted to contain the material, a. measuring liask and means for moving said flask into register 1T(ith the hopper and said chamber alter iately.

25. In a machine of the character described, a plurality ot plungfcrs adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress` material therein. said plunger-s having lsuccessively dill'ercnt extent of movement within the chamber` means for leading a -supply of the material to ports at opposite sides ot` the plungers, a plurality of measuringr flasks. and means for simultaneously moving# an empty flask out of register vvith said chamber and into register with one ot said ports. anda filled flask out of register with one ot" said ports and into register with said chamber.

26. In a machine of thc character described, a plurality of plungers adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress the material therein, said plungers having successively difl'ercnt extent of movement within the chamber, means for conveying the material to a plurality ot' ports, a plurality of measuring flasks` and means for shift ing the said flasks into and out ot' register with said ports and the chamber` and means for adjusting the size of said measuring flasks.

27. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of plungers adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress the material therein, a hopper for the maf terial, a telescopic flask intermediate the hopper and the chamber, means for shifting the Hask into and out of register with the hopper and the chamber, spaced slide plates each supporting` one member of the telescopic tiask, a. plurality of adiust-ing` screws adapted to vary the distance between the' said slide plates, and means for operating the adjusting screws simultaneously.

28. In a machine of the character de scribed, a plurality of plungers'adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress material therein, sai`d plungers having successively different-extent of movement Within' the chamber, a hopper for the material, a slidable flask intermediate the hopper and the chamber, means for movingsaid flask out of register with said hopper and into register with the chamber and a plunger and for effecting a dwell of the flask during theoperation of the plunger, and means for operating'the langer and fr effecting aA dwell thereof uringlthe movement of the flask.

29. In a machine of the character delscribed, a plurality of plungers adapted to enter a plurality of chambers to compress material therein, said plungers successively having different extent of movement in the chambers, means for moving the chambers step by step to carry each chamber into register with each plunger successively, and a centering device actingr after each movement of the chambers to position the same with respect to the plungers.

30. In a rmachine of the character described, a' feeding hopper, a plurality of plungers adapted to individually enter a plurality of chambers, said plungers having successively different extent of movement within the chambers, means for imparting a step by step movement to the chambers to bring each chamber into' register with cach plunger successively, ed to be moved into and out of engagement with said chambers, and cam-controlled operating means for said centering bar.

31.A In a machine of the character described, a frame. a hopper supported by said frame, means for supportineF a plurality of chambers, a measuring las t intermediate the hopper and said chambers, a plurality of lungers adapted to individually enter sairl) chambers, means whereby the extent of movement of the plungers in the chambers is successively decreased individually, means including a plurality of mutilated gear Wheels for operating said plungers with alternate reciprocation and dwell, and means gers at lowspeed and .for automatical a centering bar aelaptwhereby the active portions of said gear wheels 'are interengaged at low speed and are thereafter operated at a higher speed.

32. In a machine of the character described, means adapted to propel a plurality of chambers, means adapted to feed a charge of material to each of said chambers, a plu- 'rality of plungers adapted to enter the chambers, said plungers aving successively dill'erent extent of movement within the chambers, and means for moving said pluny increasing their speed of movement.

33. In a machine of the character described. a plunger adapted to enter a chamber to compress material therein, means for leading a supply of the material to ports at opposite sides of the plungers, an agitator above each of said ports, an actuator for said agitators, a plurality of measuring flasks, means for simultaneously moving anempty flask out of register with said chamber and into register Iwith one of said orts and thereafter shifting the flask in tillied condition into register with said chamber and a. second empty flask into register with aV second of said ports, and means for operatively connecting an agitator with said actuator only when an empty flask is below said agitator.

'34. In a machine of the characterf described, a plurality of plungers adapted to individually enter a chamber to compress the material therein, and plungers having successively different extent of movement within the chamber, means for conveying the vmaterial to ports at oppositesides of the plungers; a plurality of measuring flasks, means for simultaneously moving an empty flask out of register with said chamber and into register with one of said ports, a plurality of agitators one abote each port, and means for actuating said agitator when an empty flask moves into register therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing` witnesses.

CHARLES E'. MCMANUS.

`Witnesses: i

C, G. HEYLMUN, M. E. MCNINCH.

Correction in LettersiPatent No. 12985-149 It is hereby certified thut in Letters Patnt No. 1,298,749, granted April 1, 1919, uponl tho application of Charles E. lMcManus, of Non' YYm'k, N. Y., for an improvement in Cmnprvssing and Packing M nchinfls," :u1 error nppoms 1n the printed specification requiring correction as follovifs: Page 4, line lil, after the` word pul1y" insert (not Shown), to the other of said pullrys 114x, 115A; und that the said Let-tors Patent should be rend with this correotion therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of April, A. D., 1919.

F. W. H. CLAY,

. [cling Commissioner Qf Patents.

[SEAL] 

